Mining apparatus



5 Sheets-Sheet A1.

C. F. OSGQOD MINING APPARATUS A Oct. 15, 1940.

Filed March 2. 1957 Oct. 15, 1940. c. F. osGooD MINING APPARATUS FiledMarch 2, 193'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Oct. 15, 1940. c. F. osGooD 2,218,492

mums APPARATUS Flint* llarch 2, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 (Zazfecs Z7@Seynod Qua 4' Wwf y am Oct. l5, 1940. c. F. OSGOOD 2,218,492

mmm APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIII .rl

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Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,218,492 MINING APPARATUS CharlesF. Osgood, Claremont, H., assigner to Sullivan Machinery Company, acorporation of Massachusetts Application March 2, 1987,*seria1No.128,888

4 Claims.

This invention relates to mining apparatus, and more particularly toimprovements in a coal mining apparatus of the combined kerf cutting anddrilling type for cutting kerfs in a coal seam and for drilling blastholes in the coal for receiving blasting charges for breaking down thecoal previously cut.' 1

An object of this invention is to provide an improved coal miningapparatus of the combined kerf cutting and drilling type, whereby blastholes may be drilledin the coal seam by drilling means associated withthe kerf cutting means, whereby the coal may be drilled either during orsubsequent to the kerf cutting operation. Another object is to providean improved coal drilling means of the type particularly adapted to usewith a coal cutting machine, .whereby during or subsequent to the kerfcutting operation a plurality of blast holes may be drilled in the coal.Still another object is to provide an improved drilling meansparticularly adapted to use with a coal cutting machine of the topcutting type,

whereby when the coal is being top-cut, blast holes may be drilled inthe coal face below` the cut wherein and in adjacency to the mine floor.A further object is to provide an improved kerf cutting and drillingapparatus having improved means for mounting the drilling means on thecoal cutting machine, whereby the drilling means may be adjusted intodifferent.drillingpositions with respect to the kerf cutting means. Astill further object is `to provide in a coal cutting machine of thecombined horizontal and shear cutter type, an improved `drilling means,whereby blast 35 holes may be drilled in the coal face at variouslocations with respect to the horizontal and vertical kerfs cut by thekerf cutting means. Yet

another object` is to provide in a coal mining apparatus of theadjustable kerf cutter type'having a kerf cutter adjustable into eitherhorizontal bottom or top cutting positions, an improved drilling meansfor drilling top holes during the bottom cutting operation and bottomholes during the `top `cutting operation. A -still further object is toprovide in a coal `cutting machine of the so-called universal typehaving a rotatable cutter head for adjusting the kerf cutter intohorizontal top and bottom cutting positions above and below the headaxis and vertical shearing positions at either side of the head axis, animproved drilling means, whereby blast holes may be drilled in the coalface at various locations in any cutting position ofthe kerf cutter.Still another ob-ject is to provide an improved coal drill mounted in animproved manner on a coal cutting (Cl. 262-28l machine, whereby thedrill may be adjusted'into different drilling positions about an axiscoincident with the axis of rotation of the rotatable cutter head. Astill further object is to provide an improved coal drill having animproved ad- 5` justable supporting structure, whereby the drill may bereadily adjusted into different drilling positions, in `an improvedmanner. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will,however, hereinafter more fully appearl in the course of the followingdescription and as lmore particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

I n the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes ofillustration several forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings- .V

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining apparatus in which oneillustrative form of the improved drilling means is embodied. i

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the coal mining apparatus shown inFig. 1.

Fig.` 3 is a front end elevational View of the mining apparatus shown inFigs. 1 and 2, illus-r trating various positions `into which theimproved drilling means may be adjusted.

Fig. 4 is'an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in longitudinal vertical section takensubstantially on lineI5--5 of Fig.' 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on line 6-.6 ofFig. 3, illustrating details of the drilling means.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view taken 1 substantially on line1 -1 of Fig. 1.` c

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken` substantially on line 8-8 ofFig. '7. l

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the improved coal mining apparatusoperating in a mine entry` and showing various adjusted positions of theimproved drilling means.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan View of the forward portion of the miningapparatus shown in Fig. 1, illustrating a modied form of the improveddrilling means.

Fig. 11 is aidetail transverse vertical sectional View takensubstantially on line I I-I l of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing a further modiiied-form ofthe improved drilling means. Fig. 13 is` a fragmentary side elevationalview of the mining apparatus shown in` Fig. 12.

Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views showing the coal mining apparatusin operating position in a mine entry, illustrating different adjustedpositions of the improved drilling means.

In the several illustrative embodiments of the improved drilling means,the latter is associated with a coal cutting machine of the combinedhorizontal and shear cutter type commonly known as a universal trackcutter, although it will be evident that the several forms of theimproved drilling means may be associated with coal cutting machines ofvarious other types. The coal cutting machine, in this particularinstance, is of the same general type as that disclosed in my Patent No.2,007,900, patented July 9, 1935, and generally comprises a portablebase I mounted on wheels 2 adapted to travel along a mine trackway 3laid on the mine floor. Mounted on the base, in overlying relationthereon, is a horizontal turntable 4 journaled for rotation in anannular frame 5 adjustably supported by three screw pedestals 6 mountedon the base. Supported on the turntable, and overhanging the annularturntable bearing frame 5 at the forward end of the base, is ahorizontal arm structure 1, on which is supported a cutter carrying head8 rotatable about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the armstructure 1. Supported by the rotatable cutter carrying head 8 is atransverse guiding frame 9, in which is slidably guided a supportingframe IG, and pivotally mounted on this supporting frame for swingingmovement about an axis at right angles to the head axis, is a plane kerfcutter Ii. This kerf cutter is in the form of an elongated plane cutterbar i2 having guided for circulation about its margin an endless cutterchain I3. As shown in Fig. 5, the rotatable cutter carrying head 3 hasan annular neck bearing portion i4 journaled for rotation in a bearingframe I5 supported by the arm structure 1. As clearly described in thepatent above referred to, supported by the turntable 4 is a motor I6having its power shaft connected through transmission gearing, includinga horizontal shaft l1 journaled within the arm structure 1, atransmission shaft I8 and intermeshing spur gearing I9, for connectingthe shafts I1 and I8 in driving relation, and the shaft I8 isoperatively connected to the cutter chain for driving the latter, andthe shaft I1 drives gearing comprising an internal gear 29 secured tothe annular bearing frame I5, for rotating the cutter head. Also driventhrough the transmission shaft I8 is the mechanism for adjusting thesliding frame IG along its guiding frame 9 relative to the cutter headframe for adjusting the kerf cutter into parallel cutting planes towardand from the head axis. Supported on the truck frame is a motor 2|having its power shaft connected through transmission mechanism arrangedwithin a transmission housing 22 for driving the truck wheels to propelthe apparatus along the mine trackway and for adjusting the screwpedestals 6 for effecting vertical adjustment ment and universal tiltingof the turntable 4 with respect to the portable base. As clearlydescribed in the patent mentioned above, this coal mining apparatus iscapable of cutting horizontal kerfs at the floor and roof levels andhorizontal kerfs at any intermediate level, and parallel vertical shearkerfs at either side of the head axis; and in any adjusted position ofthe kerf cutter, the apparatus may be operated to sump the kerf cutterwithin the coal seam, swing the kerf cutter` accurately in its plane andto withdraw the kerf cutter from the coal seam in accordance with thewell known arcwall method of cutting. As the specific structure of thecoal mining apparatus does not enter into this invention, other than theparticular cooperation thereof with the drilling means, and is clearlydescribed in the above mentioned patent, further detailed descriptionthereof is considered unnecessary.

Now referring to the illustrative embodiment of the improved drillingmeans shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, it will be noted thatsurrounding the neck bearing mounting of the cutter carrying head 8supported on the arm structure 1 on the turntable 4, is an annularsupporting and adjusting frame 25 journaled at 26 on a cylindricalbearing support 21 preferably formed integral with the arm structure 1,for rotation about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of thecutter carrying head 8. This annular frame 25 is supported on itsbearing mounting on the cylindrical support 21 by an annular retainingflange 28 secured to the support 21 and herein formed integral with thecylindrical bearing frame I5 of the rotatable cutter carrying head. Themeans for rotating the annular frame 25 on its bearing with respect tothe support 21 may assume various forms and, in this instance, comprisesa worm 29 journaled within a bearing bracket 3Q secured to the bottom ofthe arm structure 1 and meshing with worm gear teeth 3I formed on asleeve-like portion 32 integral with the annular frame 25. This worm 29is keyed to a horizontal operating shaft 33 projecting laterally inopposite directions through the opposite sides of the bearing bracket 30in the manner shown in Fig. 4, and has fixed thereto at its oppositeends, operating handles 34. The teeth of the worm gearing are of theself-locking type and lock automatically the annular frame 25 in itsadjusted position on its bearing on the support 21. In thisconstruction, formed integral with the annular frame 25 and projectinglaterally therefrom is an arm 35 lying in transverse planes at rightanglesv to the axis of rotation of the rotatable frame 25. Swivellymounted at 3i, in any suitable manner, on the outer extremity of the arm35 is a support 3i, herein, for illustrative purposes, keyed to ahorizontal shaft 38 (see Figs. '1 and 8) arranged with its axis parallelwith the axis of rotation of the annular supporting frame 25 andjournaled at 39 within bearing supports integral i' with the arm 35. Thesupport 31 may be swung about its swivel mounting on the arm intodifferent angularly related positions with respect thereto, and may belocked in adjusted position by a clamp member iii splined to the shaft38 and having its inner surface serrated for engagement with theserrated outer surface of a plate 4I secured to the arm. Secured to thethreaded reduced end 42 of the shaft is a nut 43 having an operatinghandle 44, for pressing the plates together to effect locking. Pivotallymounted at 45, in any suitable manner, on the swivel support 31 on anaxis arranged at right angles to the swivel support axis, is anelongated arm 46, the arm swingable in planes parallel to a planeincluding the swivel supportaxis. Swivelled at 41 on the outer extremityof the arm 46 on an axis at right angles to the arm pivot axis is asupport 48, and when the arm is arranged with its longitudinal axisdisposed at right angles to the axis of the swiveled support 31, theaxis 41 is parallel with the swivel axis 3S of the support '51, as shownin Fig. 3. The support 48 and the arm 46 may be locked in adjustedposition about their respective pivotal axes by any suitable lockingmeans, suchas friction locking plates I9 (see Fig. 6) interposed betweenthe opposite faces of the bea-ring lug on `the support and the innerfaces of the bearing lugs on the arm, and passing through apertures inthe bearing lugs andplates is a shaft u keyed to the bearing portions ofthe arm and having `a threaded end 5l on which is threaded an` adjustingnut 52 provided with an operating handle 53. When the nut 52 istightened, the plates are pressed together frictionally to hold thepartsin adjusted position. The plates may, if desired, loe-serrated toprovide for firm holding of the parts. Swiveled in a suitable manner onthe support 48 at the outer extremity of the arm on an axis at rightangles to the axis of the support 48 is a drill casing 54 of a coaldrill generally designated 55. The drill casing has an annular bearingflange 56 rotatably mounted in a circular bearing recess 51 on thesupport 48 and retained therein by an annular retaining ring 59; Anysuitable locking means may be employed for locking the swiveled drillcasing to the suppo'rt 48, such as a clamping screw Gil having anoperating handle 5I and engaging the serrated l eral manner as thatdisclosed in the Holmes Patent No. 1,903,648, patented `April 11, 1933.

vThe drill rotating and feeding `stern 63 has a chuck (i9 for receivingthe shank of a usual auger drill steel 'NJ (see Fig. 6). When bothclutches of the drill feeding and rotating mechanism are applied, thedrill steel may be fed forwardly at a slow drilling speed, and when oneor the other of the clutches is released, the drill steel may be fedeither forwardly .or rearwardlyat a relatively high positioning speed.

The mode of operation of this embodiment of the invention will beclearly apparent from the description given.` The drilling means may betransported about the mi-ne from one working place to another while thedrill is resting on the top of the turntable or in any other convenientmanner. When the working place is reached, the cutter carrying head 8 ofthe coal cutting machine may be adjusted to position the cutter bar I2into any desired horizontal or vertical cutting plane between the mineroof and mine oor and between the ribs, andthe cutterbar may be sumpedin, swung arcuately in `.its plane and withdrawn from thecoal seaminaccordance With the arcwall method of cutting, in a manner well knownto those skilled in the art. When it is desired to cut a horizontal kerfat or near the level of the mine floor, the cutter head 8 is disposed inthe position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 9, and the bar adjusting mechanismis operated to adjust the sliding frame l0 downwardly along the guidingframe 9 to lower the cutter bar into its bottom cutting position. Duringthe bottom cutting operation, the operator may manipulate the handle 34of the worm rotating shaft to adjust, through the worm gearing, theannular supporting frame 25 of the drill `supporting structure about itsaxis relative to the cutter head and turntable to locate` the drill in aposition to drill `tegral with the sliding block 15.

blast holes at or near the mine roof and between and at the ribs of theentry. It is possible to operate the drill to effect its drillingfunction either during the bottom cutting operation orsubsequent to thebottom cutting operation. Thedrill may be swung into positions at eitherside of the coal cutting machine by rotation of the annular supportingframe, and the drill adjusted about the various pivotal axes of thesupporting structure in the manners indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3,to locate the drill to drill blast holes in any desired position in thecoal face or in either rib of the entry. When it is desired to cut ahori- Zontal kerf at or nearthe roof level, the cutter head 8 of thecoal cutting machine is rotated about its axis .to locate the cutter barin horizontal top cutting position above the head axis. During the topcutting operation, the annular supporting frame 25 of the drillsupporting structure may be rotated relative to the cutter head andturntableto locate the drill below the head axis in position to drillblast holes near the mine floor and between and at the ribs of theentry. If desired, the screw pedestals E of the turntable supportingmeans of the coal cutting machine may be adjusted to elevate theturntable 4 to provide more space beneath the cutter head, thereby tofacilitate adjustment of the drill supporting structure during bottomhole drilling. During the vertical shear cutting operation at eitherside of the head axis, the drill may be adjusted to drill blast holes ateither side of the vertical shear cut and at or near the roof and floorlevels.

In lthe illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 10 and11, the drill arm and supporting structure, the drill, and the annularsupporting frame surrounding the neck of the rotatable cutter head 8 aresubstantially the same4 as those 4above described. In this instance,however, the annular drill supporting frame is formed with a transverseguideway slidably receiving a block 16 on which is swivelly mounted at'H on an axis lying in a transverse vertical plane at right angles to aplane including the axis of rotation of the annular drill supportingframe and the cutter frame, a support 18. In other words, the swivelaxis l1 of the support is perpendicular to the plane of the slidingblock guideway l5, as shown in Fig. 11. The support 'I8 is pivotallymounted on` a shaft 'i9 preferably formed in- Journaled on the guideframe in parallelism with the guideway is an adjusting screw 80 threadedat 8l within the sliding block and provided, at its opposite ends, withoperating handles 82. Any suitable means may be employed for locking theswivel support 18 in its adjusted position, such as a serrated clamp 83similar to the clamp shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the form ofthe inventionabove described. Secured to the swivel support 13 is an elongated arm 84on whichthe drill 55 is swivelly mounted, in the same manner as thatshown in Fig. 6. It will thus be seen that the drill has not only theadjustments of the form of the invention above described, but may alsobe adjusted transversely of the annular drill support- Otherwise themode of operation of this form of the invention is the same as thatabove described.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 12 to 15,inclusive, the coal cutting machine is the same as that shown in Figs. 1and 2. In this instance, however, the drill is supported by therotatable cutter head 8 at the side of the latter opposite from thecutter bar and wholly independently of the cutter bar, so that when thecutter bar is in top cutting position, the drill is supported beneaththe cutter head, and when the cutter bar is in bottom cutting positionthe drill is supported above the cutter head. Mounted for rotation onthe cutter head frame about an axis alined with the pivotal axis of thecutter bar I2 is a turntable 86, a frame 81 secured to the head frameproviding a journal for the turntable. The turntable may be locked inits adjusted position to the frame 81 and cutter head in any suitablemanner, such as by a locking screw E8 provided with an operating handleS9 and engageable with the turntable. Swiveled at 9U on the turntable 86on an axis at right angles to the turntable axis, is a support 9|carrying an elongated arm 92 on which the drill 55 is swivelly mountedin a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 6. The

swivel support 9| may be locked in its adjusted position relative to theturntable by a serrated clamp 93 similar to that shown in Figs. '7 and8, and the drill swivel clamp 94 at the outer extremity of the arm maybe the sameas that shown in Fig. 6.

The mode of operation of this form of the invention is as follows: Thecoal cutting machine is operated in the same manner as that abovedescribed in connection with the other forms of the invention, and whenthe cutter head 8 is in the bottom cutting position shown in Fig. 14, orthe top cutting position shown in Fig. 15, the cutter bar may be sumpedin, swung arcuately in its plane and withdrawn from the coal face in anidentical manner. During bottom cutting, the drill is disposed in themanner shown in Fig. 14, above the cutter head, and may be adjusted todrill top holes in the coal face at any desired location at or near theroof level and in the ribs. During top cutting, the drill is disposedbeneath the cutter head, as shown in Fig, 15, and may be adjusted todrill bottom holes in the coal face at any desired location at or nearthe oor level and in the ribs. By the provision of the swivel supportingstructure for the drill, the latter may be adjusted into positions todrill blast holes in the coal face at different inclinations or inparallelism at diierent locations and in either rib, and when the cutterhead is turned into shear cutting position, holes may be drilled in thecoal face at any desired point at either side of the vertical kerf, nearthe roof level or the floor level.

It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to theparticular drill and supporting structure shown, so long as the drillmay be adjusted about the axis of the cutter head either with orindependently of the cutter head, for drilling during the cuttingoperation or subsequently thereto. It will be evident that powerrotation may be provided for rotating the drill supporting structureabout the head axis, and in all forms of the invention the drill may bedriven by a motor supported independently of the drill supportingstructure through connections extending through the supporting structureor by flexible shafting in an obvious manner. Also the various forms oflocking clamps may be substituted by other appropriate forms, and, incertain cases, the drill supporting structure may be hydraulicallyadjusted and locking eiected by hydraulically operated clamps, all in amanner Well known in the art.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved coalmining apparatus of the combined kerf cutting and drilling type isprovided for cutting kerfs and drilling blast holes at any desiredlocation in the coal seam. It will further be evident that an improvedcoal mining apparatus of the combined kerf cutting and drilling type isprovided, having drilling means mounted on the coal cutting machine,whereby the coal may be drilled either during or subsequent to the kerfcutting operation. It will still further be evident that by theprovision of the improved adjustable supporting structure for the drilland the improved manner of mounting the drill on the coal cuttingmachine, it is possible to quickly adjust the drill to drill holes atany desired location in the coal face and either rib of the mine entry.Other uses and advantages of the improved coal mining apparatus will beclearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specically described several formsWhich the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthese forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and thatthe invention may be further modied and embodied in various other formswithout departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining apparatus, the combination with a coal cutting machinecomprising a rotatable cutter head having its neck rotatably mounted ina bearing on the machine and carrying a kerf cutter, said cutter headrotatable to adjust said kerf cutter into different cutting planes aboutthe head axis, of a coal drill, and an adjustable supporting structuremounted on the front end of said cutting machine in adjacency to thecutter head neck for supporting said coal drill independently of saidkerf cutter so that the drilling operation may occur simultaneously withthe kerf cutting operation, said supporting structure comprising amember rotatably mounted on and surrounding the cutter head neck bearingmounting, and an arm structure pivotally mounted on said rotatablemember, said supporting structure supporting the coal drill foradjustment relative to the coal cutting machine into horizontal drillingpositions above and below the cutter head to drill horizontal holes inthe coal face near the mine roof or mine floor, said supportingstructure including elements for supporting said coal drill and throughwhich the drill is connected to the cutting machine during adjustmentthereof into any of aforesaid drilling positions.

2. In a mining apparatus, the combination with a coal cutting machinecomprising a horizontal support swingable horizontally about a verticalaxis and a cutter head having its neck rotatably mounted in a bearing onsaid horizontally swingable support and carrying a kerf cutter, saidcutter head rotatable to adjust said kerf cutter into different cuttingplanes about the head axis relative to said4 support, of a coal drill,and an adjustable supporting structure mounted at the forward end ofsaid cutting machine between said horizontally swingable support andsaid cutter head in adjacency to the cutter head neck for supportingsaid coal drill on the cutting machine independently of the kerf cutterso that the drilling operation may occur simultaneously with the kerfcutting operation, said supporting structure supporting said coal drillfor adjustment relative to the coal cutting machine into horizontaldrilling positions above and below the cutter head to drill horizontalholes in the coal face near the mine roof or mine oor, said supportingstructure including a supporting member rotatably mounted on andsurrounding the cutter head bearing mounting and an adjustable supportcarried by said rotatable member and on which said coal drill is mountedfor supporting the coal drill and through which the drill is connectedto the cutting machine during adjustment thereof into any 'of aforesaiddrilling positions.

l 3. In a mining machine, the combination with a coal cutting machinehaving a rotatable cutter head carrying a kerf cutter and rotatable toadjust said kerf cutter into different cutting planes about the headaxis, of a coal drill, and an adjustable` supporting structure` mountedon vthe front end of said cutting machine in adjacency to the cutterhead for supporting said coal drill on the cutting machine independentlyof the kerf cutter so that the drilling operation may occursimultaneously with the kerf cutting operation, said supportingstructure supporting said coal drill for adjustment relative to thecutting machine into horizontal drilling positions at the opposite sidesof said cutter head and above and below the cutter head to drillhorizontal holes in the coal face at either rib and near the mine floorand mine roof, said supporting structure including a guide frameproviding a transverse guideway, means for adjusting said guide frameinto positions above and below the cutter head axis, and a supportmounted on said guideway for adjustment therealong and on which saidcoal 5 drill is mounted for supporting said coal drill and through whichthe drill is connected to the cutting machine during adjustment thereofintoy any of aforesaid drilling positions.

4. In a mining apparatus, the combination with 1 a coal cutting machinehaving a kerf cutter adjustable relative to the coal face intohorizontal top cutting and horizontal bottom cutting positions near theroof and floor levels, of a coal drill, and an adjustable supportingstructure mounted l at the frontend of said cutting machine in adjacencyto the rear end of said kerf cutter for supporting said coal drill onthe cutting machine independently of said kerf cutter so that thedrilling operation may occur simultaneously With the kerf cuttingoperation, said supporting structure supporting said coal drill foradjustment relative to the cutting machine into drilling positions nearthe mine floor and near the mine roof and at either side of the machine,said supporting structure including an annular supporting framejournaled onsaid cutting machine about a horizontal axis extendinglongitudinally of the machine and a drill supporting structureadjustably mounted on said annular frame and adjustable upon rotation ofthe latter into diierent drill supporting positions relative to thecutting machine for supporting said coal drill and through which thedrill is connected to the cutting machine during adjustment thereof intoany of ,3 aforesaid drilling positions.

CHARLES F. OSGOOD.

